64344_Valjean Ann_Hildman
BRITT | Valjean Ann Hildman, 67, of Britt, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.
Funeral services for Valjean Hildman will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 139 3rd Street S.E. in Britt, with Fr. Dennis Miller officiating. Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Britt.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt, with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 4:30 p.m., and a scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Valjean Ann Hildman was born July 31, 1946, in Forest City, the daughter of Walter and Velma (Lawson) Severson, the oldest of six children. She was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church, raised on a farm south of Lake Mills, and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1965.
Valjean was united in marriage to Sherman Friesenborg on January 14, 1967. They made their first home in Bricelyn, Minn., where they owned and operated the Bricelyn Meat Locker. They later moved to Thompson. To this union, four children were born. During this time, Valjean worked at Fleetguard, where she later retired after 25 years of service. On June 20, 1998, Valjean was united in marriage to Thomas Hildman. They lived in Britt, where they were members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and Valjean was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
Valjean enjoyed music of all kinds. She sang in the choir at Salem Lutheran and liked to listen to polka and gospel music. Valjean most enjoyed spending time with family, especially with Tom, the love of her life. Together, they enjoyed taking day trips and long weekends, most recently to New Ulm, Minn. Valjean had a close relationship with each of her siblings and had fun playing cards and family fun games. She looked forward to “sister days,” shopping with her two best friends, her sisters. Valjean was blessed with six grandsons and one granddaughter and loved spending time with them. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Valjean is survived by her husband, Tom Hildman, of Britt; her children, Lonnie (Laura) Friesenborg, Laura (David) Kudej, and Rhonda Newby, all of Forest City; her grandchildren, Anton, Josef, and Sophia Kudej, Brennan and Mitchell Friesenborg, Parker Albrant and Jacob Newby; sisters, Vernell (Steven) Alexandres of Mason City and Valerie (Craig) Monson of Forest City; brothers, Vance (Shirley) Severson of Waterloo and Verlyn Severson of Dubuque; sister-in-law, Avis Montgomery of Lake Mills; father-in-law, Rudolph Hildman and brothers-in-law, Luke and Mike Hildman, all of Britt; and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant son, John; brother, Vaughn Severson; mother-in-law, Bernadine Hildman.
Arrangements are with Ewing Funeral Home, Britt. Memorials will be made to the Valjean Hildman Memorial Fund, with proceeds going to Hancock County Memorial Hospital and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, Britt, 641-843-3839, www.ewingfh.com.
- 64337_Richard Lee_Norris
- 64350_Marvin B._Wyborny